K-9 Officer Jonathan Luchak, K-9 Joker, and Sharon Hanson, VP of STAND T.A.L.L.
Recently, Sharon Hanson, VP of STAND T.A.L.L. contacted K-9 handlers for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to let them know that our organization is available to help them if they had some unbudgeted critical items needed for their K-9 dogs.
A meeting was arranged with the K-9 handlers to determine the highest priority needs for their dogs. The list of needs was long and very costly. Ms. Hanson, working with Ron Kauffman, President of STAND T.A.L.L., quickly sought approval from the Board of Directors to purchase the most urgently needed items which included three large Igloo dog houses, a large Kennel crate to house a K-9 on duty inside the jail helping to guard inmates, three magnetic stash boxes used for K-9 narcotics training, and a “bite bar” used to humanely get a K-9s jaws to open should he have them clamped on a criminal suspect’s arm or leg and be reluctant to let go following a pursuit.
Those pieces of equipment, costing almost $2000, were purchased, and recently delivered to the PCSO. However, STAND T.A.L.L. does not have the funds needed to buy the other more costly items at this time. These include two vehicle heat alarms ($2000 each) to protect the K-9s in the patrol cars should the air conditioner fail while the handler is away from the vehicle, by allowing the deputy to press a remote door release button on his utility belt. That allows the K-9 to get out of the vehicle and go to his handler’s side, three large Magnum Outdoor Kennels ($950 each) to be placed on 5’x10’ concrete slabs ($750) that must also be purchased and installed totaling more than $8000.
Chief Deputy Jeff Ramsey of the PCSO called STAND T.A.L.L. on behalf of Sheriff Tim Wright, to thank them for their generosity saying, “We’re very grateful. I can’t tell you how much it means to us to have an organization like STAND T.A.L.L. available to step up to help us.” That sentiment was echoed by the K-9 handlers.
Ron Kauffman said, “I’m hopeful that we can generate financial support from the generous people of Polk County to help us raise the additional $8000 to purchase and deliver the remaining critical items needed for the K-9s of the PCSO. Doing that is a big part of our Mission which includes supporting unbudgeted needs of area law enforcement to help them better perform their duties and to provide programs that enhance relationships with the members of our community.”